NEW HOMES must be built on green urban fringes to avoid disaster in the city, business leaders have agreed.

The Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, which represents a spectrum of industry in the city, unanimously voted to support building in green spaces.

It follows an amendment of the City Plan – Brighton and Hove’s blueprint for development up to 2030.

The plan has been dogged by delays and amendments. If provision for additional homes is not found on the outskirts it could be thrown out – wasting £1.5 million in public money and four years’ work.

Economic partnership executive director Tony Mernagh warned the city’s economic success hung in the balance.

He said: “If we don’t get the City Plan approved we’re in the last chance saloon. It would not be an exaggeration to say it would be a disaster if it was thrown out. A lot of people don’t realise it but this is a real turning point.”

The plan originally contained provision for up to 12,000 new homes – just half the city’s target of 24,000.

An amendment proposing an additional 1,200 homes on green spaces was made after the planning inspector sent officers back to the drawing board.

It will be debated by councillors at the next policy and resources committee in October and if agreed handed to the inspector.

Mr Mernagh added: “Planning inspectors are a law unto themselves. If it is rejected it won’t be a case of it being passed back the plan – the whole thing will have to be redone.

“The worst thing is if the plan is not passed it will create a developers’ free for all. Without a plan as long as developments can be proven to be sustainable, they will get consent.”

Paul Burgess, of town planner Lewis and Co, and a partnership member, said: “Some sites are more appropriate than others and each will have to be considered on its own merits.

“Some sites do have space without having an overbearing impact on existing homes.”

Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, partnership member and opposition spokesman on the policy and resources committee, said: “I and several other members of the partnership did raise questions about the proposals for the urban fringe and I have to say that there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm about supporting the council’s approach.

“We will wait to see the final report before making a decision on how to vote when this comes back to the committee in October.”